Car Safety Tips – What You Must Be Aware Of

Driving an automobile becomes so automatic after a while, it’s easy to let security fall through the cracks. But even if you’ve never been in an accident before, you shouldn’t lull yourself into a false sense of security, failing to perform basic safety precautions that could save your life, or those of your passengers, in a collision. These car safety tips can lower your risk of getting into an accident and help you manage tiny emergencies like a flat tire.

1. Wear your seat belt properly.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 15,000 lives are saved every year because drivers and passengers are wearing seat belts when they get into an accident. Seat belts keep the vehicle’s occupants in the car in a collision, control the strongest parts of the body, spread out pressure from the collision, protect the brain and spinal cord and assist the body slow down after auto repair shop vancouver effect, reducing injuries.

In order for a seat belt to work, however, it must be worn properly. Ensure that the shoulder belt rests across your chest and shoulders never across your neck. Don’t place the seat belt under your arms or behind your back. The lap belt should fit snugly over the buttocks. Seat belt extenders can be bought for larger-sized drivers and passengers that maintain safety while increasing comfort.

2. Make sure that car seats and boosters are properly installed.

Children and babies need special protection in the car to prevent serious injuries and fatalities in an automobile service toronto collision. The N.H.T.S.A. recommends that children be securely buckled into a car seat that is appropriate for the child’s age, height and weight. From birth to 12 months, infants should always ride in a rear-facing car seat; children aged 1-3 years should stay rear-facing till they reach the top height or weight limit permitted by car seat manufacturers. From ages 4-7 years, children should be strapped to a forward-facing car seat with a harness until they outgrow it, and then proceed up to a booster seat until they are grown enough to safely use an adult seat belt. Keep children in the backseat at least through age 12.

Always consult with the car seat manufacturer’s instructions to install a car seat, or better yet, have it properly installed at your neighborhood fire station. You can discover additional child car seat inspection stations at the N.H.T.S.A. website.

3. Never text while driving.

How dangerous is it to be diverted by the action of writing, sending or reading text messages while behind the wheel? Car and Driver Magazine ran a test that assessed drivers’ reaction times to brake lights while trying to text on their cell phones, and compared them to those of driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent, the legal driving limit. Driving 70 miles per hour in a straight line, it required an unimpaired driver .54 seconds to brake while a legally drunk driver needed an extra four feet. But when the driver was sending a text, an additional 70 feet were needed to come to a stop. Another study found that texting while driving was the likely cause of over 16,000 road fatalities between 2002 and 2007.

4. Do not try to multitask.

Put down the winnipeg vehicle repair shop food, makeup and other distractions while driving. While text messages have a dramatic effect on a driver’s ability to stay safe on the road, other distractions take their toll also. Talking on a cell phone, eating, use of in-vehicle technologies like navigation systems and other visual, manual and cognitive distractions take the driver’s eyes, hands and attention from the task of driving. Try to perform activities like placing your vehicle’s route, selecting music and making cell phone calls before you begin to drive, and pull over to manage distractions like fights between children.

5. Be aware of pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists.

Roads aren’t just for four-wheeled motor vehicles; even in remote rural areas, there may be pedestrians and bicyclists that aren’t visible to drivers until they get too close. Always keep safe speeds and require additional caution when moving around blind curves or over hills. Be watchful for pedestrians crossing the road at intersections, especially when turning right, and give cyclists at least half a car’s width when passing.

Because motorcycles do not have seat belts, it’s all too easy for motorcycle drivers and passengers to be seriously injured or killed in a crash. Motorcycle drivers should avoid the blind areas of trucks and be extra cautious of other vehicles on the street. Of course, helmets are a requirement for motorcycle drivers and passengers. Drivers of other vehicles shouldn’t pass a motorcycle too close, as a burst of air from the car can cause a motorcycle to shed stability.

6. Pack a climate-appropriate emergency kit.

Roadside emergencies can happen at any time, and drivers should be prepared with supplies that can assist in getting help, making minor repairs and signaling your vehicle’s presence to other motorists. Consumer Reports recommends a basic kit containing a mobile phone, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, hazard triangle, tire gauge, jack and lug wrench, foam tire sealant or plug kit, spare fuses, jumper cables, flashlight, gloves, rags, pen and paper, disposable flash camera, $20 in small bills and change and an auto-club or roadside assistance .

You may also want to think about extra clothing, water and nonperishable emergency food. In cold, snowy conditions, a windshield scraper, tire chains and tow strap, blanket, chemical hand warmers, small folding shovel and a bag of cat litter (for traction on slick surfaces) can come in handy. You can buy pre-assembled roadside safety kits and augment them with things that meet your requirements.